SmarTrip vs. CharmCard
Jul 20, 2012 | 3:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TUS and any place close to a lav
Programs: UA 1.7MM
Posts: 5,424
SmarTrip vs. CharmCard
A friend is moving to DC. I currently have a SmarTrip card. And, I recommended that they do the same. However, they asked me about the CharmCard (which apparently costs less).
WMATA SmarTrip
MTA CharmCard
It appears that if you primarily use the WMATA you can save some money on the card cost by using the MTA's CharmCard instead. Any caveats to using the CharmCard vs the SmarTrip card?
WMATA SmarTrip
A permanent, rechargeable farecard that can hold up to $300 in value to pay for Metrorail and Metrobus fares and for parking fees at Metro operated parking facilities. The card costs $5 and comes with $25 in value already on the card for a total of $30. You can add value to the card at any Metrorail station or on any Metrobus.
A permanent, rechargeable farecard that can hold up to $200 in value to pay for rail and bus fares and for parking fees at Metro operated parking facilities. The card costs $2.50 and comes with $7.50 in value already on the card for a total of $10. You can add value to the card at MTA ticket vending machines, MTA bus farebox, Metrorail stations, on Metrobus or buses at participating transit agencies.
Jul 20, 2012 | 4:49 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: VA, USA
Programs: Marriott LTT, United Club Life Member, UA *S
Posts: 995
http://www.wmata.com/fares/purchase/....cfm#CharmCard
Jul 21, 2012 | 10:38 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Back to UA, missing DL; Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,195
I got a free CharmCard last year when the Maryland Transit Administration sponsored a conference I attended and provided them as swag to all attendees. It works on everything in DC that takes a SmarTrip: Metro, Circulator buses, rechargeable in Metrorail stations, etc.
Jul 21, 2012 | 12:46 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: United MP
Posts: 7,856
I got a free CharmCard last year when the Maryland Transit Administration sponsored a conference I attended and provided them as swag to all attendees. It works on everything in DC that takes a SmarTrip: Metro, Circulator buses, rechargeable in Metrorail stations, etc.
Jul 22, 2012 | 1:31 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Jul 25, 2012 | 10:41 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 305
As for me, my administrator is Wage Works. They can deduct pre-tax money from my paychecks and deposit them to my SmarTrip card directly. In fact, they are able to separately fund both commuting and parking costs since the maximal federal benefits for this year is $125/month pre-tax for commuting alone but $240 for parking.
Jul 27, 2012 | 10:27 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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